Happy Days are Here Again

by Mark Weathington, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections

As the rain falls gently outside, we're all breathing a sigh of relief. The long range forecast calls for more rain and cooler temperatures to finally alleviate this very long, hot, dry summer. It couldn't happen at a better time since this coming Saturday (October 2) is our member's favorite day of the year—the Friends of the Arboretum Annual Plant Distribution.

This year, the selection (plant list link) is especially rich with over 3,800 plants being given away ranging from recently rooted plants in 3" pots to large material needing a wheel barrow to move. Members generally manage to bring home eight to fifteen plants each at the distribution and sometimes quite a few more than that. These plants come from all over the place—many from the JCRA collections, other arboreta, seed exchanges, plant collecting trips, and extras from our greenhouses.

Each 3" plant costs us about $2.50 to produce with larger plants costing significantly more in terms of soil, pots, fertilizer, water, heating, and labor. Many members help subsidize these costs by making a $2.00 donation per plant they receive (or expect to receive) and we do hope that everyone will consider this option.

Some highlights from this year's distribution include small numbers of fifteen different viburnums, five species of maple, about two dozen natives, and four choice Asiatic jessamines (Trachelospermum). Another very exciting group are seedlings from the JCRA's recent collecting trips to Taiwan including Spiraea formosana, Sambucus formosanus, and Eriobotrya deflexa. This last plant should be great for central North Carolina with large, sweet fruits and coppery new growth. These were collected at over 6,500' elevation and should be perfectly hardy. Perfect for use as an ornamental edible. While all the plants available in larger numbers are on a list on our Web site, there are many choice singletons that will also be available for the savvy plantsman/woman.

We hope to see all of our members out on Saturday and welcome anyone interested in joining. Remember the giveaway starts at 9:00 AM sharp and people will start lining up hours earlier. It's all over in a matter of minutes so don't be late.

Membership Updates

by Anne Porter, Director of Development

New $5.00 Off Early-bird Online Renewal

As a special "early-bird" incentive for renewing at least one month early and using our secure online giving Web site, you can save $5.00 on your membership renewal. You will also receive two free FOA Lecture passes to share with friends and family. If we have your current e-mail address, a special reminder will be sent to you two months prior to renewal expiration.

Renewing your membership early and electronically is not only fast and easy, but it saves everyone time, paper, stamps, and other valuable resources. Please consider renewing online right now.

Multi-year Renewals

While you are thinking about renewing, you might consider renewing for two years. It's easy and you "lock-in" on the 2010 membership rate. (Yes, membership rates are going to be going up in the next year.) Plus, if you take advantage of the $5.00 off early-bird renewal— that's $10.00 off for two years. What a deal!

Connoisseur Membership Level

Connoisseur Plants are rare new and hard to find old favorite plants that are offered to Friends of the Arboretum who are at the Sponsor Membership ($250) level or above. Membership gifts must be received by November 30, 2010, to be eligible for this year's Connoisseur Plants program.

Your membership support makes an important impact on the success of the JCRA. With great new plant collections and all of the new and renovated gardens due to the forward momentum of the master plan initiative, the Arboretum has never looked better. This would not be possible without private membership and special gift support. Thank you!

For more information, please call or e-mail Anne Porter at (919) 513-3826 or anne_porter@ncsu.edu or Judy Morgan-Davis at (919) 513-0264 or jvmorgan@ncsu.edu.

Recent Members Only Additions

Two new video were recorded for the Members Only section on the Arboretum's Web site in September.

• Friends of the Arboretum Lecture
  • "Flowers Around The World" presented by John Dole, Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University on September 16, 2010
• Plantsmen's Tour
  • "Tim's Top Picks" led by " Tim Alderton, Research Technician on September 14, 2010

Content in the Members Only section is password protected and is only available to Arboretum members. In order to access these special features, members need to know the password that was printed on the label (use all lower case letters) of the latest Friends of the Arboretum Newsletter or included in the e-mail with the latest monthly JCRA e-Update attached to it.